Computer display assembly

Abstract: A display assembly which is positionable substantially adjacent to a printed circuit board within an interior of a computer housing includes a display device positionable within the interior of the computer housing. The display assembly further includes a protective base, secured between the printed circuit board and the display device, wherein the protective base has (1) a display retaining portion and (2) a brace portion, secured to the display retaining portion, for reducing torsional deformation of the display retaining portion.

Description: The present invention relates generally to computers, and more particularly to a display assembly which is positionable within an interior of a computer housing. There exists numerous designs of display devices which are used in computers. One type of computer which uses a display device is a portable computer. Portable computers are typically transported from a storage site to a remote operating site and then back to the storage site. The mobility of the portable computer exposes it to substantial risk of damage, especially to the display device used therein. The display device is particularly susceptible to damage since it has low tolerance for torsional deformation (i.e. deformation of the device by twisting or otherwise altering the shape of the device relative to its normal or relaxed state). Torsional deformation of the display device may occur when mechanical force is applied to the housing of the computer, for instance, when a portable computer is inadvertently dropped from a height of a few feet. An article entitled "Packaging the computer for rough service", published in Electronic Packaging and Production, vol. 33, no. 9, September 1993, Massachusetts US, pages 30-32, XP413176, Hoyle describes an apparatus for containing and supporting electronic components. The apparatus has a shock-resistant case made of plastics material for absorbing and dissipating shock. WO90/15359 (Poqet Computer Corporation) discloses a mounting for a liquid crystal display in a portable computer. This document discloses that conventionally LCDs are mounted in a portable computer housing in a metal frame or two hard plastic two-piece shell which structurally supports the LCD. and discloses that these arrangements offer little protection against damage. To absorb the impact stress, this document discloses as a third embodiment a display assembly for an LCD display device that includes a frame formed of polycarbonat (Lexan); a horizontal plate formed of polycarbonate; chock absorbers and a housing formed of ABS/polycarbonate alloy. The housing of the display assembly acts as a protective base which has upwardly extending sides which may be considered as stiffening means for inhibiting torsional deformation of the display device and a back wall which may be considered as a display retaining portion. The LCD frame is a plate having an inside perimeter and an outside perimeter. The inside perimeter defines a display window and is shaped with a flange. The LCD frame is placed over the LCD and screws are inserted to attach LCD frame to the housing, thereby enclosing the LCD. Shock mounts are held within the housing by the LCD frame. The mounting consists of resilient shock absorbers mounted along the edges of the LCD. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display assembly which is less susceptible to mechanical shock than prior art assemblies. According to the present invention there is provided a display assembly as claimed in claim 1. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is an exploded perspective view of the computer housing that contains the display assembly which incorporates the features of the present invention therein; Fig 2 is an exploded perspective view of the display assembly of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig 1; and Fig 4 is a planar view of the protective base of the display assembly of Fig 1. Referring now to Fig 1, there is shown a display assembly, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 which is positionable within the interior of a computer housing 12. The computer housing 12 includes an upper housing portion 14 and a lower housing portion 16. The specific structure of each of the housing portions 14 and 16 is not shown in detail in the Figs but may include a substrate with an overmold material positioned over the substrate and secured thereto. By way of example the substrate may be made from a modified nylon material such as Noryl, a trademark of General Electric Company of Fairfield, Connecticut. Also by way of example, the overmold material may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer such as Krayton, a trademark of Shell Oil Company of Houston, Texas. Defined within the upper housing portion 14 is an opening as shown in Fig 1. The upper housing portion 14 includes a clip 15 for holding a stylus (not shown) used to input information on the display assembly 10. The upper housing portion 14 further includes a plurality of first support members 18, and the lower housing portion 16 includes a plurality of second support members 20. Each of the first support members 18 extends away from the upper housing portion 14 and terminates at a distal end. A nut (not shown) is friction fit in the interior of each of the first support members 18. Each of the second support members 20 extends away from the lower housing 16 and terminates at a distal end. Moreover, each of the second support members 20 has a central passage defined therein. When the housing portions 14 and 16 are positioned relative to each other so as to contain a printed circuit board 22 and the display assembly 10, the plurality of first support members 18 cooperate with the plurality of second support members 20 so as to secure a plurality of grommets or isolating members 24 within the computer housing 12 and thereby position the display assembly 10 within the computer housing 12. A screw (not shown) extends through the central passage of each of the second support members 20 and meshingly engages the nut positioned within the corresponding first support member 18 so as to secure the upper housing portion to the lower housing portion. The display assembly 10 is supported on and secured to the printed circuit board 22 which has electrical components (not shown) mounted thereon. The protective base 32 is secured to the printed circuit board 22 with a plurality of screws (not shown). The plurality of grommets or isolating members 24 are secured to the printed circuit board 22. Each of grommets 24 are made from an elastomeric material. By way of example, one elastomeric material which may be used is a material available as model no. VL-03 (high impact absorbing material) from EAR Specialty Composite, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana. Another elastomeric material which may be used is Scotchdamp, a trademark of 3M Corporation of St. Paul, Minnesota and available as model no. SJ2015X. When housing portions 14 and 16 are positioned relative to each other so as to contain the printed circuit board 22 therein, the display assembly 10 is accessible through the opening defined in the upper housing portion 14 so that a user can view and input data through such opening. FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the display assembly 10. FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary sectional view of the display assembly 10. The display assembly 10 includes a top cover 26, a display device 28, a digitizer input tablet 30 and a protective base or tray 32. The top cover 26 includes a frame portion 34 and a glass portion 36. The glass portion 36 is secured to the frame portion 34 by an adhesive (not shown). A plurality of screw holes 38 are defined in the frame portion 34. The display device 28 possesses a plurality of alignment holes 40 defined therein. The digitizer input tablet 30 also possesses a plurality of alignment holes 41 defined therein. Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a planar view of the protective base 32. The protective base 32 includes a display retaining portion 46 and a brace portion 48. The brace portion 48 is secured to the display retaining portion 46. More specifically, the brace portion 48 and the display retaining portion 46 are formed as one integral part. The protective base 32 is made of a metallic material. One metallic material which may be used is a magnesium alloy such as the product sold by Aluminum Company of America of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as product no. AZ91D. The display retaining portion 46 includes a plurality of screw holes 50 and a plurality of posts 52. A screw (not shown) is positioned in each screw hole 38 of top cover 34 and a corresponding screw hole 50 of protective base 32 so as to secure the top cover to the protective base and thereby retain the display device 28 and the digitizer input tablet 30 therebetween (see also FIG. 3). Each of the posts 52 of the protective base 32 extends through a corresponding alignment hole 41 of the digitizer input tablet 30 and a corresponding alignment hole 40 of the display device 28 so as to align the digitizer input device and the display device within the protective base (see also FIG. 2). The display retaining portion 48 further includes a plurality of apertures 54 through which extends electrical wires of the digitizer input tablet 30 and the display device 28 (see also FIG. 2). The base 32 further incorporates a rim portion 56 positionable substantially adjacent to a peripheral portion of said display device 28. The rim portion 56 is strengthened, so as to reduce torsional deformation still further, by the brace portion 48. The brace portion 48 functions to support the display retaining portion 46 so as to reduce the amount of torsional deformation of the display retaining portion during the application of mechanical force to the display retaining portion and thereby reduce the amount of torsional deformation of the display device supported on the display retaining portion. Torsionally deforming the display device includes twisting or otherwise altering the shape of the device relative to its normal or relaxed state by application of mechanical force thereto. Mechanical force may be applied to the display retaining portion, and consequently the display device, as a result of inadvertent dropping of the device during its transportation. Moreover, since the protective base 32, including the display retaining portion and the brace portion 48, is made of a metallic material, the protective base functions as a heat sink to more readily dissipate the heat generated by electrical components in the proximate vicinity of the protective base. A display assembly in accordance with the present invention has the advantage that it is both rugged and easy and inexpensive to assemble.

Claims: A display assembly (10) for an LCD display device (28) comprising a frame (34) and a protective base (32) both secured to each other and to the display device for supporting said display device (28), the protective base (32) having a retaining portion (46) for the display device (28) and stiffening means (56) for inhibiting torsional deformation on the display device (28), characterised in that the display assembly (10) is positionable within the interior of a computer housing (12), and in that the protective base (32) is made of a metallic material, and in that the protective base (32) is supported on and secured to a printed circuit board (22) within said computer housing (12). An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the metallic material is a magnesium alloy. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the stiffening means (48,56) for preventing torsional deformation incorporates a brace portion (48) secured to the display retaining portion (46). An assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the stiffening means (48,56) for preventing torsional deformation incorporates a rim portion (56) which is positionable substantially adjacent to a peripheral portion of the display device (28), the base further having means (48) for reducing torsional deformation of the rim portion (56). An assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the display device (28) is secured to the protective base (32). An assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the protective base (32) is secured to the printed circuit board (22). An assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the display retaining portion (46) and the brace portion (48) together define a tray on which the display device (28) is supported.

Inventors: CROCKETT ROBERT J, CROCKETT, ROBERT J.
Applicants: NCR INT INC, NCR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G02F1, G06F1